Citizens demand alternate system if CSC service is disrupted

THE GOAN NETWORK | MAY 16, 2024, 01:03 AM IST
Citizens demand alternate system if CSC service is disrupted

The Citizens Service Centre on the ground floor of the Martanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex, Marago.

Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar


MARGAO
As the Citizens Service Centre (CSC) is back in the news again, this time over complaints of non-availability of service relating to Form I & XIV, citizens questioned why the authorities had not put an alternate system in place to ensure that people are not put to hardships.

For, during the visit of Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate during the exercise “government to the doorsteps of the people”, citizens had raised complaints that the CSC has been causing hardships to the people of Salcete for want of prompt and efficient service. The citizens had demanded that the government revert to the old system wherein people used to take the documents from the respective revenue officials in the District Collectorate.

To tide over the problem and put an alternate system in place to mitigate the hardships faced by the citizens, Revenue Secretary Sandeep Jacques had come out with a novel idea wherein revenue officials, right from the Collector and Deputy Collector down to the taluka Mamlatdar were directed to also issue documents in circumstances the CSC is not in a position to provide documents to the public.

The citizens wondered why officials of the District Collectorate had not put up a notice at the CSC help desk to guide them regarding Form I & XIV by knocking on the doors of the Salcete Mamlatdar for the documents. “Why should the citizens be punished for no fault of theirs? If the CSC cannot issue the Form I & XIV due to technical issues for around a fortnight, the authorities should have immediately put into effect the alternate mode by guiding the citizens to approach the Salcete Mamlatdar directly for the documents,” remarked a citizen.

Another citizen pointed out that he has been coming to the CSC for Form I & XIV for the last couple of days but had to return home after being told at the help desk that the form could not be issued at the centre due to technical issues.

Opened with much fanfare by former chief minister, late Manohar Parrikar in the presence of then revenue minister Rohan Khaunte, then TCP minister Vijai Sardesai and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, the CSC, manned by Goa Electronics Ltd (GEL) has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, with citizens raising frequent complaints over the system of issuing documents resulting in Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate issuing directions to the District Collector to streamline the system for the benefit of the people.

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